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yekorzh
Australia
4 Posts |
 Posted - 19 mars 2009 : 00:07:57
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Hi,
I just bought a VGPS-900 unit and it was delivered remarkably quickly. Thanks for that!
The problem I'm having is that id does not fix its location. It gets GPS fix for 2-3 seconds but then goes back to sync mode for 30sec-2 minutes, fixes for 2-3 seconds and then again back to sync ...
Apart from that it seems to be fine, it beeps, creates CSV files on flash card (with 2-3 seconds of data), BT is working fine.
I tried it on pretty open space - no tall buildings or mountains, where my other GPS receiver doesn't have any problems.
Is there anything I can do with it or it is a RMA case?
Thanks in advance!
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Yegor Korzh
http://yk.mynetscene.com |
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maciekwolf
Australia
5 Posts |
Posted - 03 avr. 2009 : 09:18:53
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I am having an identical problem with my VGPS-900 as described by Yegor - inability to lock onto sattelites. I also purchased the unit recently and I am also in Australia.
Any news from the manufacturer as this seems to be more than an isolated incident? |
wherever you go... there you are? |
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carlwithaK
New Zealand
8 Posts |
Posted - 14 mai 2009 : 12:36:22
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| Have either of you had any luck with this? I am having a similar problem with my VGPS-900 in New Zealand. It never seems to get a lock at all. However I have just returned from the USA, where it was working fine. |
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maciekwolf
Australia
5 Posts |
Posted - 14 mai 2009 : 19:20:19
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Hi, I'm sorry to hear (but not surprised) that someone else in the southern hemisphere is having the same problem with their VGPS-900. Unfortunately I don't have much hope for you - we have both ended up returning ours after fruitless testing and comunication with Visiontac. For the benefit of other people because it contains more detailed description of fault I'll attach my correspondence with them:
"Hello,
I have recently purchased a VGPS-900 unit and I am having problem with it maintaining a satellite lock. I spoke about the issue with one of your representatives (...) and I emailed the merchant from whom I purchased the unit who advised me to contact Visiontac directly, so I am writing an official letter to let you know of the issue and see if a possible solution can be found.
Description of fault:
Basically the unit does not keep a fix on the satellites. It locks on for couple seconds every 30s-2mins and then loses it. This is evidenced by three things:
1. The green status led instead of blinking constantly remains steady and only blinks rarely (once or twice every 30s-2mins)
2. The produced log file instead of having a position record once every second has three samples and then a gap of 30s-2mins
3. When connected via bluetooth to gps aware software (eg VisualGPS or Google Maps Mobile) the software reports GPS fix status once every 30s-2mins, otherwise status is "Acquiring satellites". In VisualGPS when the momentary fix does occur the signal strength reported is ok (30-50 dB-Hz)
Needless to say because of lack of proper satellite lock the produced log file as well as using the device for bluetooth navigation results in huge errors, although every so often the momentary lock is quite accurate.
Advised by your representative I have tried draining the battery completely to flush the ephemeris cache but this has not resolved the issue.
I draw your attention to the fact that I am not the only person with this problem, another person who recently bought the unit and is also coincidentally(?) located in Australia has described issues 100% identical to mine. These are links to his posts on the popular GPSPASSION forum where people meet to evaluate and compare GPS receivers:
(...)
So I am asking you in this letter officially for any possible solution to this issue which is now more than an isolated incident. If not for the unit's inability to maintain a lock i like the device and i would like to ask a merchant for a replacement but at this stage i am suspecting some systemic fault, maybe a bad production batch or a faulty firmware and I am worried that the replacement unit will exhibit exactly the same problems. Is there no way of updating the firmware via the sd card? I found a file on the memory card generated by the device called INFO.TXT which has this line in it: "Firmware:V2.1". I am willing to do some more testing with your help if a resolution to this issue can be found. I would much rather get it fixed this way then to send for a replacement only to receive another faulty unit.
I hope you can help me resolve this
Maciek"
And response from Visiontac:
"Maciek,
This is very interesting observation. We also get another user from Australia reporting the same problem. I doubt it's the batch problem since those are the only two cases in that batch. I guess it's more likely that unit is defective. So it's better you send it back to us for the replacement and We can do the research on the unit. We'll test the new unit before we send it out
Thanks again"
So I guess now there is three in the batch, though i suspect we are the three early adopters in OZ/NZ and soon their will be more.
I did send the unit back and it did work properly in US so I did not bother with a replacement. I have now moved on to 747a+ which is twice the size and works about 120 times better (seeing as the VGPS would only get a relatively good position once every two minutes).
Out of interest only can you verify the firmware in your unit? I found a file INFO.TXT on the memory card in mine which said "Firmware:V2.1" and also when i tested using BT747 (kudos mdeweerd!) it reported "Firmware:M-core_2.11". Not that it matters really as I believe it is not firmware updatable.
[edit see PM]
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wherever you go... there you are? |
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mdeweerd
798 Posts |
Posted - 15 mai 2009 : 19:59:29
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Thanks for the Kudos ;-).
I think that at least part of the firmware is updateable. Further, if you want to do voicetagging, you can still use a digital recorder (your phone?) and BT747 to do so ;-). |
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maciekwolf
Australia
5 Posts |
Posted - 15 mai 2009 : 22:25:38
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Thanks, that's great to know!
It wasn't so much the voicetagging as the possibility of transferring the track via micro sd card to my device that had me excited. But I guess with your brilliant software I can transfer the log via bluetooth from my new 747a+ - even more convenient if a little slower.
One more thing someone troubleshooting this lack-of-fix fault on the VGPS-900 may find useful: I observed interesting behaviour on the data coming in from the device when I watched the status screen in BT747. Namely while there was no fix the reported position would remain unchanged but the altitude would rise from 20m (where I was) to (if I remember correctly) 1000m at which point the altitude would reset, satellite LED on the unit would blink once or twice and three new (though not entirely accurate) position samples would blink on the status screen. After which the position would freeze again and altitude would go back to rising. The period of time before the altitude would reach the 1000m would vary between 30s and 2 mins but invariably when it did the cycle would be restarted.
Does this point anyone to a possible cause? |
wherever you go... there you are? |
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carlwithaK
New Zealand
8 Posts |
Posted - 19 mai 2009 : 12:46:21
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There is no sign of a INFO.TXT file on my memory card, and I haven't figured out how to get BT747 to connect to the unit. I'll try that at work tomorrow because I've never had much luck with the bluetooth at home.
If I can't get anything going, do you recommend the 747a+ as a similar device? |
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maciekwolf
Australia
5 Posts |
Posted - 21 mai 2009 : 20:59:29
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Definitely. Of course 747a+ doesn't have micro sd card logging and voice memos but when it comes to sheer tracking performance I am very impressed. Have a good look around this forum (if you haven't done so already) and you'll notice that 747 is often used as a benchmark for comparing performance of new models.
Please let everyone know if you somehow manage to get your Visiontac working though. |
wherever you go... there you are? |
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carlwithaK
New Zealand
8 Posts |
Posted - 27 mai 2009 : 12:08:08
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I managed to get BT747 to connect (I think) to the Visiontac at work, but couldn't see anyway to get a version out of it.
As far as actually getting a working unit, Visiontac are meant to replace the unit directly for me. They want me to send $15 with it to cover I guess their shipping of a new unit to me, which I'm not keen on as it seems very unlikely any other unit is going to work any better. |
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gpspassion
93393 Posts |
Posted - 27 mai 2009 : 15:57:38
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| Nope, the miniUSB plug on the V900 can only be used to recharge the battery, data transfers (the .csv files can then be dragged/dropped in BT747) and configuation happen with the microSD card, check out its topic for more details. |
Discounts and Assistance/Réductions et Assistance (Club GpsPasSion) / Où commencer? |
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carlwithaK
New Zealand
8 Posts |
Posted - 16 juil. 2009 : 13:45:59
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It's been a while, but it seems Visiontac eventually went back to their engineers with my description (thanks to the others here with the same issue too) and they think they have found an issue in the firmware. So today I battled through far too many documents for FedEx and sent the unit on its way back to China.
I'll keep you informed of any progress. |
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gpspassion
93393 Posts |
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carlwithaK
New Zealand
8 Posts |
Posted - 03 août 2009 : 12:03:52
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So... after sending this away and not hearing anything, a bit over a week later a VGPS-900. It looks like a brand new unit from the complete absence of finger prints on it. There was also a new memory card in there so I fired it up straight away, and have used it a few times - both walking around town and for a drive of about 25kms. From what I can tell everything seems to be working as it should which is good news.
Its been a few months now since I last had one of these working, but it seems as though the green GPS light flashes a lot faster, and when it gets the first lock after turning it on it beeps which I don't remember it doing. |
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zexl5
2 Posts |
Posted - 03 août 2009 : 18:08:14
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carlwithaK, this is good news indeed.
It would be nice if the manufacturer said what the cause of the earlier failure was.... since if I were to purchase from an online store , there's no way of knowing if the unit will work in Southern hemisphere. I guess not until when I visit Auckland later this year and try it out. |
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arne
Canada
7 Posts |
Posted - 25 mai 2010 : 22:18:59
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Hi, all
I had been searching for a logger to tag my pictures and found a link to Visiontac VGSP-900. It looked like it would do perfect for what I needed. Then I came across this site and was sad to find that there was problems with it.
Since the last post on April 09, I was wondering if all was good and customer service was satisfactory.
I am hoping to get a logger within a couple of weeks.
Thanks for any updates if possible. |
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gpspassion
93393 Posts |
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Topic |
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Visiontac : no Fix in Southern Hemisphere [FIXED]
